Jesus, Our Bridge

Where are you going? Time to find out.

When we think about Jesus being a bridge, I want to qualify that there is a time and place coming where we will end up, and it is either heaven or hell. Scripture speaks to this in Matthew 25. Matthew 25:  1 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³ The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, ⁴ but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. ⁵ When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. ⁶ “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ ⁷ “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps.⁸ Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’⁹ “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. ¹¹ Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ ¹² “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ ¹³ “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

In our modern society, the thought of hell is compromised to the point that we don't even speak about it. This distraction from our enemy has even set into motion a false denial that says there is no hell. This, to me, represents the five foolish virgins in the above verses, and their plight was set when they were distracted from dealing with the truth that the bridegroom was coming for His bride. If you are a born-again believer, then you are His bride, and He is coming. I believe He is coming very soon, but if you died today, that would be when your opportunity to be ready for His coming would be over. OVER. Thus, the following scripture. ¹¹ Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ ¹² “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’

A dangerous action was taken by the foolish virgins because they were relying on the wise virgins for their oil, or their salvation, and salvation is too personal for that to be true. We are all accountable for our own choice when it comes to salvation, and you cannot live a secondary faith that is received through "going to church all my life", or "momma read the Bible every day type of faith, or I attended church every time the doors were open" kind of faith. You receive Jesus by a personal belief in the fact that you are a sinner and you need salvation, and Jesus is the only one who can provide that salvation. John 14:⁶ Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Conviction is a very "now" type of thing that we must all deal with at one point in our lives, and the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin and draws us to a point of decision. John 6:⁴⁴ For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. When convicted of sin, a person must deal with that conviction in one way or another. If they want to repent and turn to God, then Jesus is there to forgive them and give them new life. If they reject Jesus, then they are foolish like the foolish virgins. They will not realize what they have done until it is too late, and that will be eternally binding. Conviction is personal to each of us, and we must respond to Jesus in a personal way because His life change happens in a very individual commitment to follow Him. Jesus is calling us to "follow Him" just like He did when He called His first disciples on the shore. Jesus changed those fishermen's lives at their core, and they gave their lives to follow Him and His call. You must do the same. No shortcuts or excuses. Only Jesus is our bridge from eternity in hell to eternity in heaven. Jesus is THAT bridge.

You may ask, when do I need to cross that bridge? I believe the verse in the above scripture makes it perfectly clear. Matthew 25: ^{13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return. Jesus is coming soon, and it is true, but the real question I should be asking is, "Are you ready for the bridegroom to return?" If not, come to Jesus by faith today. If you are, then get into His Word and see what He is calling you to do. The bridge lies before you. Take the step!!}

The Pilgrimage Continues,

David Warren